Abstract:The high calorific value of rice husks has elevated its reuse as an energy source; however, the burning of these shells generates a waste ash from rice husk ash (RHA), which makes its disposal a concern. Despite advances, biodegradable polymers are not yet able to compete with those of traditional thermoplastics, which have lower production cost and higher performance. Based on this background, this paper studies the feasibility of reuse of RHA as filler in polymer matrices replacing the conventional filler. This study consists of applying different percentages of RHA in the formulation of polyhydroxybutyrate composite (PHB) and the use of talc (TA) for comparison purposes as conventional filler. The composites used in this assay were obtained by twin-screw extrusion and injection molding of the polymer plus the fillers under study. Physicochemical and biodegradability properties of the composites were evaluated. The composite PHB/RHA was superior in the biodegradability tests and the properties remain practically unchanged in the presence of the filler. Thus, composites with RHA are promising because they take an abundant residue combined with degradation capacity of the polymer, therefore reducing cost and the environmental impact.
The development of biodegradable polymer composites is a promising alternative for obtaining environmentally friendly materials. The aim of this study was to develop polyhidroxybutyrate (PHB) composites with rice husk ashes and evaluate mechanical properties by tensile tests, determining stress and elongation at break and modulus of elasticity, flexural strength test and Izod impact tests, as well as density and hardness. The composites showed impact strength up to 25% greater than the polymeric material containing only PHB. Also for the testing of tensile strength in bending showed significant improvements in the composites up to 15%. The results indicate that the ash as filler in PHB is viable for applications in materials that already use the PHB in pure form, considering the technical aspects studied (processing and properties) and the environment, since in most tests there was a gain or maintenance of properties when compared to PHB.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.